Hamster Toys - Digging And Your Pet's Health

Hamsters get exercise in a variety of different ways. As pet owners, it is our duty to provide our little guys with a bunch of different toys to use. We're all familiar with the standard running type toys like hamster wheels and run abouts. But what about other kinds of exercise? Hamsters love to do all sorts of things like climb and chew. There are quite a few toys available that allow both these exercises. One exercise that isn't usually considered, though, is digging. Hamsters love to dig and pet owners should encourage this behavior. So how can we help our furry little friends? Easy! Provide them some hamster toys that allows them to dig to their heart's content.

Now there really isn't a "digging toy" available. In order to accommodate your pet, you're going to have to improvise a bit. Remember the sandbox that you used to play in as a kid? What we're going to do is make something like this for your hamster. If you're even remotely creative and have a bit of time on your hands, this is pretty easy. I just took some Popsicle sticks and a bit of glue(use the non-toxic stuff) and formed a basic box shape. It isn't beautiful but it does the trick. If you want to buy something instead, go ahead. You may want to check out the rabbit section if you can't find anything specifically made for hamsters.

Ok... Now that you have the box sorted, it's time to put something in it. You have a few options here:

Normal sand

• Definitely the cheapest option available. Normal sand is probably fine for your pet. Some folks think that plain old sand can provide health problems for your pet. If you're at all worried about this, you may want to check out some other options listed below.

Sanitized sand

• This sand is great. It's typically used in proper sandboxes for kids but works equally as well in a pet cage. It's organic, natural, safe and all that other good stuff. If you can't find it at pet store, check out a children's store that's hip to the whole "green" thing. This product isn't expensive and will keep your pet safe.

Chinchilla sand

• This is my favorite type of fill for hamster sand boxes. It's meant for chinchillas but works equally well with all rodents. This type of sand has a few benefits over the others discussed. First of all, hamsters love it. If you really want to encourage your pet to dig, look no further. I find that my hamster spends way more time digging in this stuff than he does in normal sand. Another neat thing about chinchilla sand is the fact that it's actually good for your pet. It makes their coat all kinds of fresh and shiny. You really can't go wrong here!

So there you have it!  Add digging to your pet's daily exercise routine and he'll love you for it.